Principal's Ponderings

I have recently been reflecting on the importance of our roles as parents and adults in raising our children. Michelle Obama is quoted as telling the parenting truth about her own mother. Obama would say about her own mum, 'Her goal was to push us out into the world. "I'm not raising babies," she'd tell us. "I'm raising adults."'

As we commence planning for Year 9 and Year 10, and this week 'Launch Year 9 at DCS', this quote has been said a couple of times recently. It made me ponder the importance of it and I am reminded of the wisdom found in Proverbs 22:6, 'Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.'

Our roles as parents and educators indeed encompass providing structure through instruction and boundaries. However, something that has been stirring within me is the importance to equally prioritise fostering our children’s ability to shoulder responsibility, for them learning to make decisions, learn how to discern and accept their own consequences—be they triumphant or trying. Getting them involved in organisation from a young age, setting their alarm, laying their clothes out for the next school day, setting their breakfast and lunch boxes out for preparation in the morning. But I also think there is a lot more to this ‘raising adults’ philosophy. 

I am starting to see today how the crucial years, when our own children are aged 8-15, present a fresh opportunity for them to exercise judgment and learn from the outcomes. The practice of them being given responsibility builds their confidence and prepares them for the complexities of adulthood. It is essential, therefore, that we create spaces for them to lead, discuss options and then make decisions. 

The vision of parenting and educating, which sees beyond the immediacy of childhood, requires us to be both guide and support, rather than mere enforcers of rules. As the influential Christian author and speaker, Dr. James Dobson, once noted, 'Children are not casual guests in our home. They have been loaned to us temporarily for the purpose of loving them and instilling a foundation of values on which their future lives will be built.' This perspective encourages us to stand beside our young people, offering both freedom and guidance, as they navigate both their triumphs and their missteps.

In our roles, it is tempting to shield our children from the pain of failure. Yet, it is from such experiences that wisdom often springs. Consider the apostle Paul's reflection in Romans 5:3-4, 'Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.' Thus, allowing our children to encounter and overcome challenges is not merely a method of learning; it is a way to build character and resilience. When I was at school, I remember watching how the adults around me responded to grief and suffering, it was an example to me of how to support others and walk through difficulties, I was watching and learning. 

As they learn to discern and make wise choices, our presence and counsel provide a safety net that enables them to take meaningful risks. We are preparing them not just to succeed academically, but to navigate life’s broader landscape—with its peaks and valleys—with humility and grace.

Let us, therefore, commit to being living role models of the values we cherish. Let us show them how to learn from every situation—good or bad. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer wisely said, 'Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility.' By fostering this readiness, we cultivate not just learners, but wise, compassionate, and resilient individuals.

As a community at Devonport, may we continue to guide our children with love, letting the light of Christ shine through our actions and decisions. May our efforts be blessed as we shape these young lives to not only face the world but to also enrich it, carrying forth the love and wisdom that we impart to them. Let us raise adults!

Chad Smit | Principal